King's Express on probation

January 17, 2009|By ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A local Chinese food restaurant has been placed on probation by the health department after reportedly violating several health regulations. Inspectors first visited King's Express, 3601 Edison Road, in early December and found a number of critical and noncritical violations, according to health department records. The restaurant was told to have the violations fixed by its next inspection. During a follow-up visit on Dec. 23, however, inspectors found many of the same violations, including improper hand washing, raw chicken stored above potatoes in a walk-in cooler, wiping cloths lying on prep and grill areas, and personal items such as toothpaste stored on a clean utensil rack. The certified food handler at Kings Express was upset at inspectors during the visit, according to department reports, telling them that he had not expected the officials until January and that the violations would have been corrected by then. At a hearing this week, inspectors went over the violations with store employees and offered them educational materials to pass out to staff. The restaurant was then placed on six months' probation as well as assessed a $75 fee.